Blaise L Gainey
@BlaiseGainey
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Political Reporter for @WPLN | Father of 2 | @FAMU Alum | email: bgainey @wpln .org |
Nashville, TN
Joined November 2018
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Members of Nashville's Metro Council have already come out and said that they will reappoint
@brotherjones_
to the
@TNHouseReps
.
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This lady refused to put down her sign and was removed from the committee. Some in the crowd asked, “is this what democracy looks like.”
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For those wondering if there will be any demonstrations today. This may answer your question.
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They can say what they want about
@brotherjones_
but he knows the rules. He just asked for the vote to be tallied so that he can see who wants to impose HB 7023 on Davidson County.
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Moms Demand Action is laying out hundreds of cards with names of Tennesseans who have died due to gun violence since 2017.
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@Justinjpearson
asking if
@CSexton25
wouldn't mind getting off the phone to address the hundreds of people lined up outside the House Chambers who were in attendance to hear a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns. The bill was postponed after three hours of session.
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More than 200 state legislators from across the country sent
@CSexton25
a letter backing up the actions of Reps.
@VoteGloriaJ
@brotherjones_
and
@Justinjpearson
.
Read the full letter, signed by 200+ state legislators in support of the Tennessee 3
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This bill was about to come up right now and then
@WilliamLamberth
called to end the session for the day. The public started booing. They've been sitting pretty quietly for nearly 3 hours waiting to hear this very bill.
Today on the House floor, we’ll be voting on HB 1202 to allow teachers to carry guns in schools. Is this really the direction we want to go as a state— more guns in schools? This is an irresponsible response to school shootings and will not keep students safe. This is madness.
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It’s official
@Justinjpearson
is back in the
@TNHouseReps
exactly a week after being expelled.
#tnleg
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Pastors and people of faith are gathered at the Legislative Plaza before heading up to the Tennessee Capitol. Once there they will be linking arms and surrounding the Capitol with prayer.
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House Republicans walk through a human made tunnel of Highway Patrolmen as the crowd chants “shame” and calls for Sexton.
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@brotherjones_
speaks to reporters after being silenced by
@CSexton25
for “speaking out of order”
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@WilliamLamberth
@RyanWilliamsTN
With the gallery full of people some holding up signs that read "NO MORE GUNS IN SCHOOLS" moving this bill means they will likely not be here in attendance when it comes back up.
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Some of the guests were Covenant School parents. They are now forced to leave as well. However those who will be speaking on bills will be called back in to talk when that time comes.
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Back on the House Floor for the afternoon session.
@PowellforTN
and
@TorreyHarris901
are bringing up the fact that the expulsions of
@brotherjones_
&
@brotherjones_
is going to cost their cities upwards of a million dollars due to special elections that will need to be held.
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@brotherjones_
asks the clerk what the residency rules are to be elected, taking a dig at the rumors that
@CSexton25
no longer lives in Crossville.
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House Republicans just unanimously voted to allow their colleague to keep talking after he called a member of the Democratic Party racist.
So it seems Republicans don't mind the word being used.
Right after Rep. Jones was called out of order.
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Protestors at the Capitol just dropped out this large banner and in return
@CSexton25
had told troopers to escort them out of the balcony.
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The Wells family (Tyre Nichols parents) were here this morning. The Senate has the bill that'd get rid of the local ordinance they helped pass.
Just told they now they have left the building. After speaking with the sponsor. Mrs. Wells seen crying.
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It’s official
@Justinjpearson
has been sworn in after winning a special election due to an expulsion back in April. Just an hour before the special session on public safety begins.
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Sen. Oliver is asking the Attorney General if new rules being imposed on the public are constitutional. Since I’ve been covering TN state politics. The tunnel leading to the Capitol building has never been shut off from public access. Lawmakers and the public shared the space.
Yesterday morning, I requested a legal opinion from AG Skrmetti. I believe these "made-up rules" enforced by state troopers violated the constitutional rights of my constituents who showed up to demand gun safety reform. Democracy must not be silenced in the People’s House.
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Scene outside of House chambers after
@TNDemocrats
came out to speak about what just took place.
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The TN House just voted 83-11 to pass HB 883, a bill adding a few exceptions to the state's abortion law.
@VoteGloriaJ
and other Dems made several attempts(5 I believe) to amend the law to allow for more exceptions including rape and incest but they were all voted down.
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FYI Tallahasseeans and those nearby please share:
Bethel AME church has 400+ Pfizer vaccine doses in Tallahassee that need to get into arms today, April 17, 2021. If you know of ANYONE who wants Pfizer they can walk up until 3. 501 W Orange Avenue.
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Sen. Oliver isn't the only Nashville elected official who believes they were not invited to this. I reached out to the Governor's office to see why this was. They say every member of the TN General Assembly was invited.
Both can't be true.
Interesting… I wasn’t invited and it’s in my district. I wouldn't attend something like this anyway. No way I'm co-signing a
#CopCity
in our backyard. We could've made historic investments in attainable housing, food security, or schools with this land...
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This is another angle of that same moment.
@brotherjones_
and
@Justinjpearson
can be seen looking at
@CSexton25
who's sitting taking what must of been an important phone call.
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Watch as Republican Timothy Hill from Blountville tells Rep. Justin J. Pearson releases what he's been holding in for quite some time.
Oh and in advance Hill was not ruled out of order. Instead Democrats were ruled out of order for responding to Hill.
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Some members of the public have gotten creative with the new rules. Since there are no signs allowed they've turned their phones into signs. While some just fully ignored the rule, however they weren't kicked out.
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Hard to see but
@brotherjones_
is down there with
@TNDemocrats
being sworn back into the
@TNHouseReps
.
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@brotherjones_
was just silenced and ruled out of order. Although the new rules haven't been adopted he was still not allowed the chance to finish using his time to speak.
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The gallery of the senate is packed with families from Covenant, Wilson County voters and others. Not 100% sure what to expect but we are hearing it’ll be rather quick. Whether they adjourn or reopen committees is the two options.
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For those wondering it’s riot control gear that they are carrying into work. Baton, gas mask, etc. It’s brought just in case they are needed.
Which nothing has risen to that level yet.
For those wondering if there will be any demonstrations today. This may answer your question.
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@TorreyHarris901
says that money could've been spent to increase the time it takes to process rape test kits. A measure that would've funded that initiative failed yesterday.
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@brotherjones_
then motions for session to be adjourned. He says if lawmakers are too tired to hear and debate on HB 1202 that they should just go home. The motion fails.
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The 44th legislative day in the Tennessee House. The house just voted to pass a bill that makes child autopsies exempt from public records.
The bill wasn’t debated on at all after
@WilliamLamberth
called for a vote instantly after the bill was introduced.
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@WilliamLamberth
has withdrawn the motion. However the sponsor
@RyanWilliamsTN
is choosing to not take it up.
@WilliamLamberth
then renews his motion.
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Large turnout for the joint Students & Moons Demand Action rally.
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To Whom It May Concern: I’m leaving the Sunshine State and heading north to the Volunteer State.
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@JRClemmons
This was applied during special session to silence
@brotherjones_
when it was perceived he spoke off topic. Here's the clip below.
WATCH: “FASCISTS! VOTE THEM OUT!”
DEMS WALK OUT, Gallery Erupts After
#KremlinCameron
@CSexton25
& the
@tnhousegop
Silence
@brotherjones_
again for no reason, claiming he was “out of order” with his remarks about SRO’s, which were not off the bill at all.
Here’s what happened:
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Had my digital camera out and didn't take any pics with my phone before they folded up their banner. But here's what I did capture.
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@brotherjones_
@Justinjpearson
@WilliamLamberth
You can watch for yourself by it appears
@CSexton25
shoved
@Justinjpearson
as he attempted to make his way out of the chamber.
Usually Sexton stays in and speaks to reporters.
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@Justinjpearson
has come over to let us know that
@WilliamLamberth
has been audio recording and that Lamberth admits to it. Here’s video. Lamberth was not ruled out of order.
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The prayer circle around the capitol is complete and prayer has begun. Don’t have a real count but there seems to be around 300 people here.
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It allows law enforcement to assign a school resource officer to any school in the district overriding the local board of education's choice to not enter into a memorandum of understanding with a law enforcement agency to have an SRO.
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Three resolutions have been filed that would remove these elected officials from office. A decision usually left to people charged with criminal penalties.
Three Democratic lawmakers —
@brotherjones_
,
@Justinjpearson
and
@VoteGloriaJ
— have been removed from their committee assignments. WPLN's
@BlaiseGainey
reports this comes after they took part in gun control protests on the Tennessee House floor last week.
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Rep. Jones motion was upheld.
Only Republicans voted for it.
Reps. Bulso, Baum, Butler, Fritz, Gant, Gillespie, Hurt, Lafferty, Ragan, Stevens, Warner, Slater, White, and Cepicky who's the sponsor all voted for it.
It passed.
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@dr_hemphill
Hi, first I'm sorry for your loss. I am a reporter and wanted to know if you wouldn't mind speaking with me about Toyin.
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The “Smashville Proudboys” showed up with American Flags and holding up white power hand signs. The group of less than 10 all had their faces covered.
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Here's a closeup of that book. "Joaquin's First School Shooting"
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The woman holding her book up was asked to put it down but began flipping through pages as if she’s reading it. They’ve allowed her to stay for now.
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@JRClemmons
@brotherjones_
@WilliamLamberth
@RepRagan
@JasonZacharyTN
@RepChrisTodd
@WilliamLamberth
says it is the case that the rolling of Democrat bills today is retaliation for what he says was
@brotherjones_
not respecting staff members last Thursday.
He says he's not sure when the rolling of dems bills will stop.
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After what many see as a disappointing end to the session due to no gun reform legislation,
@GovBillLee
says he will call all lawmakers back to Nashville for a special session to pass legislation to strengthen public safety.
After much input from members of the General Assembly and discussions with legislative leadership, we have decided to call a special session to continue our work to protect Tennessee communities and preserve constitutional rights. (1/4)
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@JRClemmons
is standing to point out that all bills sponsored by Democrats continue to be rolled to the end of the calendar by Republicans. A motion that Democrats can't win being that Republicans have a supermajority.
Not sure the reason behind it.
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@JRClemmons
@brotherjones_
says this is deflection and that this is truly retaliation for their failed voucher bill. He says
@WilliamLamberth
is playing petty politics and that he’s hurt that he was called a racist.
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This usually is true. But I've just found out that in order for bills to make it through first hearing they will need to be filed by 4pm TODAY. With special session expected to end Thursday that would make it hard for anybody who files once session begins to get their bill heard.
Did you know that lawmakers can introduce legislation on ways to make Tennesseans safer at any point during the special session next week? Did you also know that Tennessee is consistently in the top 10 states in the rate of women killed by men?
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Focusing on bills.
@repgillespie
has a bill up now that would fine parents $1,000 if their child is found to be delinquent two or more times.
@JRClemmons
says he's tired of Republican bills that raise penalties and don't address the root problem.
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Today I was on
@MeetThePress
with
@kwelkernbc
to talk about Tennessee’s new law that gives teachers a pathway to carry guns on campus.
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HAPPENING NOW: Chaotic ending to the TN Special Session as Rep. Justin Pearson approaches Speaker Sexton with a sign and is pushed away by security.
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The TN House just passed a measure that would destroy all the work done by Memphis City Council & Tyre Nichols parents to end minor traffic stops.
The family was here Monday to lobby against it, the sponsor chose to roll it and apparently told them it’d come up next Thurs.
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Rep.
@JustinJPearson
has arrived outside the
@tncapitol
. He will be sworn in shortly and then head onto the
@TNHouseReps
chamber for this mornings session.
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Gosh I feel like last session never ended. The tension in the room between Democrats and Republicans is almost visible. They are still debating these new rules. Which more than likely won't be changed.
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The second Senate committee just tabled all 20 of their bills. Then adjourned.
Senate Education Committee has just tabled all 21 bills on its calendar.
They adjourned in about 30 seconds.
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Jones hasn't been recognized all day due to his violation of Rule 19 yesterday.
I'm not sure what the penalty would do. Maybe make Jones not eligible to speak for an additional day.
If so, I'm not sure he'd be able to speak again this week. There's no session scheduled Friday.
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House Dem Chairman
@JRClemmons
says his caucus will stay focused on pushing to have their bills heard.
Republicans wouldn't just let these bills that they thought were fine ideas die right?
Stay tuned.
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Here in the Civil Justice Committee there’s standing room only. Bills that allow guns to be carried on school campuses by firearm license holders is expected to be heard.
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At the start of the Civil Justice Committee Rep. Jason Powell asked Civil Justice Sub Chair Rep. Lowell Russell to apologize for kicking people out yesterday. He didn’t. Meeting continues.
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Very impactful panel discussion last night
@NPR
w/
@nprAudie
@dsupervilleap
@ayesharascoe
&
@AprilDRyan
talking about their experiences reporting on the White House as black women.
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Only Republican hope members remain in the chamber after all Democrats walk out.
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Obviously after two lawmakers were voted out for their acts last week the crowd is upset.
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A group of parents of students at The Covenant School in Nashville announce their initial bill endorsements. Those include measures to enhance school safety procedures and shield autopsy’s of minors from public access.
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The
@TNHouseReps
just passed a bill that prevents local governments from enacting red flag laws.
@Justinjpearson
spoke against the bill saying that some communities may have more courage than the General Assembly to take guns away from people who want to commit violent acts.
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A race for a county commission seat in Sumner County, north of Nashville, ended in a tie last month between
@dotsonfor13
and Rep. Terri Boyt. Now the all-Republican county commission can either hold a runoff or select their preferred candidate.
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My return to television news came sooner than expected. But it was great doing so with
@ChrisDavisMMJ
and former
@WPLN
employee Pat Nolan.
It was fun having my Capitol Hill colleague
@BlaiseGainey
alongside me for Inside Politics this week, hosted by the incomparable Pat Nolan.
Safe to say, we had plenty to talk about from the Hill this week.
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Just ran over to the House. They are taking up the budget. Just killed an amendment that would've reduced the franchise tax refund payments by $700k to fund a grocery tax cut.
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Just joined
@pbsnewshour
to talk about Tennessee’s Special Session. If you aren’t up to date click the link to find out the latest.
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Republicans continue calling for a vote on bills before healthy debate takes place. The most egregious was on a bill that prevents people from changing their gender marker on identifying documents, including state IDs.
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Says he empathizes with the family.
Have to say this all seems contradicting if you read my first tweet in this thread.
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I published a profile on the TN-05 race featuring Democrat
@Campbell4TN
and Republican
@AndyOgles
. Ogles did not respond to several interview requests for this piece. But on Monday he made time for an interview on
@997wtn
.
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@Yarbro
passed a bill that sets a new caseload requirements for DCS case managers. However, the House version was taken off notice last year, so it's unclear if it has a real chance.
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Members of the public are up in the gallery that has been shut off from guests all session long.
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Chairman Lowell Russell just cleared the room after guests clapped due to a bill being taken off the calendar.
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@SenatorLamar
@SenBrentTaylor
@jadamlowe
@CharlaneOliver
was trying to speak next but previous question was called. And now
@SenBrentTaylor
is closing. He says this isn't about the Nichols family.
He says it's about city government preempting state law. Taylor acknowledges the family for their courage.
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At the Groundbreaking Ceremony for MALETA this morning.
@GovBillLee
@CSexton25
@ltgovmcnally
and many more law makers and state officials are in attendance.
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SB1654 would stop Tennesseans from being allowed to give guns to people prohibited from having one fails on a party line vote.
Currently the law just stops someone from selling a gun to a person prohibited from having one. But no law stops you from giving it to them for free.
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This inaction by the
@tnsenate
is likely to make parents and kids more upset with their government after they've spent days calling for gun reform. One parent leaving the committee room with a sign said they were "cowards."
Some gun related bills in the senate judiciary committee just got rolled to the 2024 session, including one that would have allowed teachers across the state to carry guns at school, and another that would have implemented safe storage requirements.
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TN House is very lively tonight. They are still going, they began at 4. So far they’ve passed a bill that bans Pride & BLM flags from being in schools. Currently they are about to vote on a bill that would prevent an expelled member from being appointed back in the legislature.
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